A Republican candidate for Indiana’s First Congressional District was charged with driving on a suspended license with a prior conviction and failing to provide proof of insurance, according to the Valparaiso Police Department.
James Schenke, 59, was booked in the Porter County Jail after 1:30 a.m. Friday, after failing to provide a license and registration when stopped by police, according to police records.
Schenke is one of several Republican candidates in the May primary who hopes to face U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, in the November general election.
Schenke had been living in West Lafayette. According to online court records, Schenke was charged Nov. 26 with driving while suspended in Tippecanoe Superior Court and received a default judgment on the infraction on March 2.
A Valparaiso Police officer was patrolling westbound on Lincolnway near Napoleon Street when he saw Schenke’s white 2018 Infiniti Q50 driving in front of him and crossing over the center line twice, according to the police report.
When the police officer pulled Schenke over, near Lincolnway and Weston Street, Schenkie said he was trying to follow a GPS to his new home in the Miller Beach area of Gary after leaving a Republican meeting at Burgerhaus in Valparaiso, according to the report.
When the officer asked for his license and registration, Schenke said “he changed suits earlier in the evening and believed he left his wallet in the other pants,” according to the report. He also couldn’t find his registration after searching his car, police said.
Schenke gave the police officer a business card when asked what his name was. After “many opportunities” to provide valid proof of insurance, Schenke wasn’t able to provide it, according to the police report.
When the officer searched Schenke in the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, he learned that Schenke’s driver’s license was suspended with a prior conviction date of March 2. Schenke later told the officer he was not aware that his driver’s license was suspended, according to the police report.
The officer told Schenke that driving on a suspended license with a prior conviction was a class A misdemeanor, instructed him to get out of the vehicle and placed him in handcuffs. Schenke was then transported to Porter County Jail, according to the police report.
Schenke’s initial hearing was Friday morning before Porter County Superior Judge Christopher Buckley, according to online court records.
akukulka@post-trib.com
